Central Asian summit in Uzbekistan issues statement


Russian news agency Interfax
December 28

The Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Tajik and Uzbek presidents signed a Tashkent Statement on Friday [28 December] expressing support for [Prime Minister] Hamed Karzai's interim government in Afghanistan and UN and world community efforts aimed at rebuilding the country.

Bearing in mind the traditionally neighbourly relations between the Central Asian and Afghan nations and their common historical and cultural heritage, the presidents expressed their willingness to provide humanitarian and other aid to the Afghans in building a reborn and democratic country "living in peace and harmony with its neighbours and integrated into the world community."

The statement also notes the growing tensions between India and Pakistan. It denounces the recent terrorist attack on the Indian parliament resulting in a loss of life and calls on the Indian and Pakistani leaders to show "statesmanship, refrain from rash action and resolve problems by political means".

The four leaders confirmed their belief that "mutually beneficial cooperation in the political, economic, technological, cultural and other fields and close teamwork on the international scene serve the national interests of every country in the region and plays a major role in maintaining peace and stability in the region and throughout the world."